Manjusha Sajith et al.

/ International Journal of Pharma Sciences and Research (IJPSR)

Incidence of pregnancy induced

hypertension and prescription pattern of
antihypertensive drugs in pregnancy
MANJUSHA SAJITH*1, VANDANA NIMBARGI2, AMIT MODI3, RONAK SUMARIYA3,
ATMARAM PAWAR4
1. Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Poona College
of Pharmacy, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
2. Professor, Department Of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Bharati Hospital and Research centre, Pune,
Maharashtra, India.
3. Student, PharmD Program, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Poona College of Pharmacy, Erandwane, Pune,
Maharashtra, India.
4. Vice-Principal and Head, PharmD Programme, Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed
University, Pune.
manjusaji1@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Aim: To determine the frequency and distribution of different types of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and
to assess the drug utilization pattern of antihypertensive drugs in pregnancy. Method: A prospective study was
conducted over a period of one year in inpatients of Gynaecology and Obstetrics Department at Bharati
Hospital, Pune. Patients diagnosed as hypertensive disorder of pregnancy were taken for primary evaluation.
The data regarding demographic details, presenting complaints, gestational age, obstetrics history, diagnosis,
blood pressure monitoring, current medications, antihypertensive drugs prescribed were collected and the
utilization of antihypertensive drugs in pregnancy was evaluated. Result: A total of 1330 pregnant women
visited the OBG department, out of which 104 patients were diagnosed with hypertension. The overall
prevalence of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy was 7.8%. The mean maternal age was 23.8 years during the
hospital admission. The prevalence of Preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, chronic hypertension, and
eclampsia were 5.6 %, 1.5%, 0.15 %, and 0.60 % respectively. Highest incidence of hypertension was occurred
in age group of 18-22 years (41.3%) and primigravidae patients (53.8%). A majority of patients 67.3 % were on
combination therapy whereas 32.7% were on Monotherapy. Methyldopa was the commonest prescribed
antihypertensive as monotherapy (17.3 %) as well as in combination therapy (i.e. 28.8 % with methyldopa and
Nifedipine). Conclusion: Our study concluded that the incidence of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy was
high. Methyldopa was the commonest prescribed antihypertensive in monotherapy and combination, as it is
safest during pregnancy.
INTRODUCTION
Hypertension is the most common medical problem encountered in pregnancy and remains an
important cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality1. It complicates almost 10% of all pregnancies2.
Pregnancies complicated by hypertension are associated with increased risk of adverse fetal, neonatal and
maternal outcomes, including preterm birth, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), perinatal death, acute renal
or hepatic failure, antepartum haemorrhage, postpartum haemorrhage and maternal death3.
Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy are classified into 4 categories, as recommended by the
National High Blood Pressure Education Program Working Group on High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy: 1)
chronic hypertension, 2) preeclampsia-eclampsia, 3) preeclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension, and
4) gestational hypertension (transient hypertension of pregnancy or chronic hypertension identified in the latter
half of pregnancy)4. In a multicenter study, approximately 30% of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were due
to chronic hypertension while 70% of the cases were diagnosed as gestational hypertension/preeclampsia5.
Treating the hypertension does not alter the progression of disease. However it has been shown that early
treatment decreases not only the frequency of hypertensive crisis, but also the rate of neonatal complications.
Antihypertensive medications are mainly used to prevent or treat severe hypertension, to prolong pregnancy for
as long as safely possible thereby maximizing the gestational age of the infant, and to minimize fetal exposure to
medications that may have adverse effects. During pregnancy, the challenge is in deciding when to use
antihypertensive medications, and what level of blood pressure to target. The antihypertensive drugs that may be
used in pregnancy are methyldopa, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers and vasodilators. Methyldopa has
been available for many years and is widely used. Literature supports the safety and efficacy of Nifedipine and
Atenolol used in essential hypertension in pregnancy6.

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Antihypertensive use during pregnancy is relatively common and increasing. The wide range of agents
used during pregnancy includes medications considered contraindicated during pregnancy. The choice of
antihypertensive agents is less complex because only a small proportion of currently available drugs have been
evaluated adequately in pregnant women and many are contraindicated7. The present study focused on the
antihypertensive drug utilization pattern in women attending the antenatal clinic of obstetrics and gynaecology
department at a tertiary care teaching hospital.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A prospective study was conducted over a period of one year in inpatients of Gynaecology and Obstetrics
Department at Bharati Hospital, Pune. All pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic were screened for
hypertension and patients diagnosed as hypertensive disorder of pregnancy were taken for primary evaluation.
The data regarding demographic details, presenting complaints, gestational age, obstetrics history, diagnosis,
blood pressure monitoring, current medications, antihypertensive drugs prescribed were gathered from medical
record files. The utilization of antihypertensive drugs in pregnancy was evaluated.
RESULTS
During one year study, 1330 pregnant women visited the OGD, out of which 104 patients were diagnosed with
hypertension. The prevalence of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy was 7.8%. The mean maternal age at
delivery was 23.8 years. Total distributions of patients with respect to age group shows that highest number of
patients was found in the age group of 18-22 years (41.3 %) and least was above 32 years age group (3.8%).
Table 1 provides various hypertensive disorders in the age groups of patients.
TABLE 1: AGE DISTRIBUTION ACCORDING TO HYPERTENSIVE DISORDERS OF PREGNANCY

Age ( in Gestational Eclampsia Chronic Preeclampsia Percentage

years ) hypertension (n=8) hypertension (n=74) (%)
(n=20) (n=2)
No. of patients
18-22 7 6 0 30 41.3
23-27 11 2 0 28 39.4
28-32 0 0 2 14 15.4
>32 2 0 0 2 3.8

The Subject characteristic of woman who were diagnosed as a hypertensive having an average weight of 61.8 kg
and a mean gestational age 32.7 weeks at the time of admission. The mean Systolic Blood Pressure was 156.6
mmHg, while the mean Diastolic Blood Pressure was 101.4 mmHg (Table 2).

TABLE 2: SUBJECT CHARACTERISTICS OF STUDY POPULATION

Mean (n=104) S.D

Age (years) 23.8 4.0

Weight at time of admission(kg) 61.8 10.6
Systolic Blood Pressure ( mmHg) 156.6 22.2
Diastolic Blood Pressure (mmHg) 101.4 11.5
Mean Arterial Pressure 105.7 7.8
Gestational age at enrolment (weeks) 32.7 4.6

Preeclampsia was the most common cause of hypertension during pregnancy (71.2%). This was followed by
Gestational Hypertension (19.2 %) population. Results are summarized in Figure 1.

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FIGURE 1: SUBJECT CLASS ACCORDING TO DIAGNOSIS (N=104)

40 38.5%
35 32.7%
30
Gestational
25 hypertension=20
19.2%
20
Mild preeclampsia=34
15
10 7.7%
1.9% Severe preeclampsia=40
5
0 Eclampsia=8

Chronic hypertension=2

Gestational age at the time of admission varied from 21 weeks till term (Table 3).

TABLE 3: GESTATIONAL AGE OF SUBJECTS ACCORDING TO DIAGNOSIS (N=104)

Gestational Gestational Mild Severe Eclampsia Chronic

Age (weeks) Hypertension Preeclampsia Preeclampsia Hypertension
21-24 2 0 4 2 2
25-30 2 2 10 2 0
31-35 6 14 22 2 0
>36 10 18 4 2 0

In this study, the incidence of hypertension in pregnancy was highest among primigravidae. Out of 104 patients,
56 were primigravida (53.8 %) and 48 were multigravida (46.1%) (Table 4).

TABLE 4: GRAVIDITY STATUS OF SUBJECT (N=104)

Para Gestational Preeclampsia Eclampsia Chronic Percentage (%)

hypertension hypertension

No. of patients
Multigravida 8 36 2 2 46.1
Primigravida 12 38 6 -- 53.8

Headache in 20 (19.2%), Epigastric pain in 18 (17.3 %), peripheral edema in 14 (13.5 %), Blurring vision in 2
(1.9 %) patients were observed and Seizures were seen in 4 patients (Table 5).
TABLE 5: SYMPTOMS OF PATIENTS WITH HYPERTENSIVE DISORDERS OF PREGNANCY

Symptoms No. of Patients Percentage

Peripheral Edema 14 13.5
Severe Headache 20 19.2
Epigastric Pain 18 17.3
Blurring Vision 2 1.9
Seizures 4 3.8

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Overall 34 (32.69%) patients were treated with a single antihypertensive drug, and 70 (67.31%) patients were
treated with antihypertensive drug combinations as represented in Figure 2.

FIGURE 2: UTILIZATION PATTERN OF ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS IN PREGNANCY

32.69% Monotherapy=34

Combination
67.31% therapy=70

Figure 3 shows the details of patients, who were treated with a single antihypertensive drug. 18 (17.3 %)
patients were treated with centrally acting antiadrenergic drugs and 16 (15.4 %) patients were treated with
Calcium Channel blockers (Figure 3).
FIGURE 3: THE PATTERN OF USE OF ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS IN PATIENT TREATED WITH MONOTHERAPY

Centrally Acting
Antiadrenergic
drugs= 18
15.4% 17.3%
Calcium Channel
blockers=16

Table 6 shows details of patients treated with combination therapy, out of 70 patients, 52 (50.0 %) were
prescribed with two drugs, 16 (15.4%) were prescribed with three drugs and 2 (1.9 %) with four drugs. The
calcium channel blockers and centrally acting antiadrenergic drugs (28.8%) was the most frequently prescribed
two-drug combinations. β-blocker agent, Calcium channel blocker and centrally acting agent (15.4 %) was the
most frequently prescribed three drug combinations (Table 6).

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TABLE 6: THE PATTERN OF ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS IN PATIENT TREATED WITH COMBINATION THERAPY (N= 70)

Drug Classes No. of patients Percentage

Centrally acting agent + Calcium channel blocker 30 28.8
Calcium channel blocker + β -blocker agent 12 11.5
Centrally acting agent+ β -blocker agent 6 5.7
Centrally acting agent + Diuretic 2 1.9
Calcium channel blocker + Diuretic 2 1.9
Centrally acting agent + Calcium channel blocker + β -blocker 16 15.4
agent
Calcium channel blocker + β -blocker agent + Centrally acting 2 1.9
agent + Diuretic

The most commonly prescribed antihypertensive drugs were Methyl dopa & Nifedipine (28.8 %); Methyl dopa
(17.3 %), Nifedipine (15.4%), Labetalol, Nifedipine & Methyldopa (11.5 %) as represented in Table 7.

TABLE 7: INDICATIONS FOR VARIOUS ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS

Drugs prescribed Gestational Preeclampsia Eclampsia Chronic Percentage

Hypertension Mild Severe hypertension
Nifedipine 2 8 4 2 --- 15.4
Methyldopa 8 8 2 --- --- 17.3
Methyldopa & 2 12 12 2 2 28.8
Nifedipine
Methyldopa & 2 2 2 --- --- 5.8
Labetalol
Nifedipine & --- 4 2 2 -- 7.7
Labetolol
Atenolol & 2 --- 2 --- -- 3.8
Nifedipine
Nifedipine & 2 --- --- --- --- 1.9
Furosemide
Methyldopa & --- -- --- 2 --- 1.9
Furosemide
Labetalol, Nifedipine 2 --- 10 -- --- 11.5
& Methyldopa
Methyldopa, --- -- 4 ---- --- 3.8
Nifedipine, labetalol
& Atenolol
Methyldopa, ---- -- 2 --- --- 1.9
Nifedipine Labetalol
& Furosemide

The most commonly prescribed medication classes were calcium supplement (92.3%), iron preparations (44.2%),
nutrient supplements (40.4%), multi vitamins (38.5%), and folic acid (32.7 %) as represented in Table 8.

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TABLE 8: DRUG UTILIZATION PATTERN IN OB&GY INPATIENTS OTHER THAN ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS

Drugs No. of Patients Percentage

Calcium supplement 96 92.3
Iron supplement 46 44.2
Nutritional supplements (protein 42 40.4
powder)
Multivitamin supplement 40 38.5
Folic acid supplement 34 32.7
H 2 Blocker 18 17.3
Analgesics & anti inflammatory 16 15.4
Anti allergic 14 13.5
Laxative 6 5.8
Anti-helminthes 6 5.8
Antispasmodic 4 3.8
Antiemetic 6 5.8
Nitric oxide donors
Arginine 40 38.4
Progesterone 8 7.7
Antioxidants
Vitamin E 7 13.5
Vitamin C 15 28.8
Antithrombotic agents
Aspirin 3 5.7
Omega-3 fatty acid 12 23.1

DISCUSSION

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are considered to be a major worldwide health problem running
an increased risk of Perinatal and maternal mortality1. The prevalence of Hypertensive Disorder in Pregnancy
varies according to geographic regions of world and ranges from 1.5% in Sweden’s to 7.5% in Brazil8.
According to our study, the frequency of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy was 7.8%. The variations can be
attributed to racial differences, socioeconomic status and some other parameters like parity and age.
The distribution of different hypertensive disorders of pregnancy was that, Gestational hypertension of
pregnancy was diagnosed in 20 (19.2%) cases. 74 patients (71.1%) and 8 (7.7%) patients appeared to be pre-
eclamptic and eclamptic respectively. In India, the incidence of preeclampsia is reported to be 8-10% of the
pregnancies9. We also observed preeclampsia in 5.4% of the study population. The overall prevalence of
Eclampsia in our study was found to be 0.6 % of pregnancies. The reported incidence of eclampsia from India
is 0.71 %. These figures are comparable with our study. Chronic hypertension was found 2 (1.9 %) patients in
our study. The frequency of chronic hypertension in Iran was 0.17% which is similar to our study (0.15 %) 10.
Age has an important influence on the incidence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Young
primigravidae under 20 years and all patients over 30 years have an increased chance of hypertension 11. In our
study highest incidence of the hypertensive disorders occurred among those aged 18 to 22 years. This could be
because the majority of conceptions take place in this age group in our country. The age distribution of
eclampsia patients in our study is similar to other reports and suggests that eclampsia is, probably, a disease of
young women12. Preeclampsia is more frequent in patients younger than 21 years of age and in older than 35 13.
In our study majority of preeclampsia patients were between the ages of 18 to 22 years. Preeclampsia and
eclampsia were apparently higher in younger pregnant women (less than 30 years) as Yucesoy et al, showed in
their recent investigation. The frequency of chronic hypertension appears to be higher in woman aged ≥30 10
years & same is indicating in our study also.
The incidence of PIH is distributed unevenly throughout late gestation, increasing with advancing
gestation. Approximately half of PIH cases occur at term ≥37( weeks' gestation), including most cases of
gestational hypertension. Early-onset PIH is often associated with severe preeclampsia 14. The mean gestational
age at presentation was 32.7 weeks which is comparable with other study (i.e. 37 weeks) 15. The reported
gestational age of onset of preeclampsia is more than 20th week of pregnancy in vast majority of patients, but
recently a case was reported from Japan with typical features of preeclampsia occurring at less than 20th weeks
of gestation15.
Preeclampsia is primarily regarded as a disease of first pregnancy. In our study, 53.8% were
primigravidas and 46.1 % were multigravidas. Several other authors have reported primiparity in 52-73%

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patients of preeclampsia. In our study, both primigravida and multigravida were equally affected with
eclampsia. But literature indicates that eclampsia is a disease of primigravida. According to Hellman incidence
of eclampsia in primigravida and multigravida was in the proportion of 3:116.
Oedema was seen in 13.5 % of our patients. Oedema is a very common manifestation seen in upto 80%
of normal pregnancies17. Prevalence of peripheral edema was significantly less than what would be expected.
We believe that this might have been due to all information was not necessarily documented.
Antihypertensives are agents that lower blood pressure. The aim of antihypertensive therapy in the
management of pregnancy induced hypertension is to prevent complications due to hypertension while
prolonging the course of pregnancy. Monotherapy and combination therapy were used in our hospital for
treating hypertension during pregnancies. The most commonly prescribed antihypertensive agent was adrenergic
receptor alpha-2 agonists: Methyldopa, Nefidipine, Labetol. The use of combination antihypertensive
pharmacotherapy suggests increased Severity of illness where optimal BP control cannot be achieved on
monotherapy. The present study reveals that adrenergic receptor alpha-2 agonists (Methyldopa) were mostly
prescribed single drug therapy. In the present study, two drug combinations were mostly prescribed (49.8 %)
followed by three drug combinations (15.4 %). In the present study also most of the cases of PIH were treated
using Methyldopa or Nifedipine. Methyldopa was the commonest prescribed antihypertensive as monotherapy
as well as in combination therapy. Similarly in a study by Cvijic M et.al18, Methyldopa was most commonly
prescribed antihypertensive drugs in 27.8% of patients. In contrast to this, studies from Ray JG et.al19 showed
that Nifedipine (47.7%) was prescribed more frequently than Methyldopa (27.7%).This shows that utilization
pattern differs from hospitals, prescribers and among countries also.
In our study, calcium supplements, iron preparations, nutritional supplement, folic-acid and Vitamins,
the most frequently used drugs in pregnancy. Periconceptional folic-acid supplementation can prevent most
neural-tube defects and other congenital abnormalities of the cardiovascular system, urinary tract and limb
deficiencies. Moreover, folic-acid supplementation in pregnancy is associated with the decreased incidence of
habitual spontaneous abortion and pregnancy complications (e.g., placental abruption and preeclampsia) 20.

CONCLUSION
Our study concluded that the incidence of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy was high. Early
diagnosis and treatment through regular antenatal checkup is a key factor to prevent PIH and its complications.
The incidence of combination therapy was high. Methyldopa was the commonest prescribed antihypertensive in
monotherapy and combination, as it is safest during pregnancy.

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